Feeding our Future: Building an Agri-Food Hub for all

The multi-disciplinary team’s concept master plan addresses key challenges of Singapore’s limited land resource for agriculture and aquaculture with careful consideration for the ecological sensitivities of the site. Hence, the master plan proposes innovative farming typologies and technologies which would achieve the food production goals whilst incorporating the natural character of Lim Chu Kang. The concept includes holistic ecosystems to enable sustainable, productive agri-food production, a framework for circular resourcing and opportunities for businesses and agri-food workers.

The first of its kind, this ground-breaking approach is tailored to suit Singapore’s climate and the coastal topography of the site. The plan proposes a 3-layer stacked farm prototype that caters to different levels of food production and unique production conditions e.g., indoor mushroom and beansprout farming in the basement where sunlight is not required, an enclosed environment with regulated indoor climate and temperature for leafy vegetables, greenhouses for fruit and vegetables that thrive in natural daylight, and indoor farms for fish and crustaceans with water and air treatment.

Circular thinking guides the district-wide design, aimed at boosting energy efficiency and operational resilience, for example, turning agricultural waste into assets using anaerobic digesters.

Coastal protection measures are significant drivers of the design. The building and green spaces are carefully integrated to create multi-functional spaces which maximises food production areas whilst addressing rising sea levels concerns and ecological sensitivity of the site.

The gradated-farm approach informs the zoning strategy. The core production zone is envisaged as an intensive farming area with stringent biosecurity controls. It is located farthest from the nature reserve. A transition production zone is introduced between the core production zone and nature areas with indoor farms thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding context to minimise visual impact within the biodiversity areas.

Preserving the characteristics of the site is an important consideration as Lim Chu Kang is surrounded by Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Kranji Marshes. The landscape will respond to the ecosystems in the area and provide low impact recreational opportunities for the public.